samshltn

they'd have it fitted at the next port.

Ah good point, the port will have the necessary equipment to hoist it to where it needs to be. Which like all good answers raises another question: Where is the anchor normally stowed?

Could it be a spare anchor, in case they lose one?

Yes, it could be - but there's no equipment on the deck to actually deploy it. There's no visible means to move it from it's stowed position.

On the Norwegian Peal last week, we visited the foredeck. On the deck there were the following things:

• A rail around the edge of the deck.
  
• The crew pool.
  
• An escape hatch from the deck below.
  
• The foremast.
  
• A door to enter and leave the deck.
  
• A huge anchor, bolted to the deck.
  

So here's my question: What's that anchor for? There's no windlass there, no hoist to lift it, no method to deploy it whatsoever. Why is it there?

Thanks Scott - that makes sense but I couldn't find anywhere on NCL.com that explained it!

Having acquired Platinum under the 'old' Latitudes scheme, I've noticed that under the 'new' scheme I only have enough points for Gold.

My account still shows that I am Platinum however. Am I in danger of losing it?

Thanks SeaShark. It was interesting to read everyone's opinions/speculations on the subject*, but what I was after was the definitive correct answer that you pasted. I had been unable to find that on ncl.com.

Thanks again.

(*just sayin')

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Its a three minute walk: https://goo.gl/maps/Tgs21HWtMmT2

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You fill the bag, fill out the list & pay 50% of the total..

The benefit does not allow you to pay 50% of the per item laundry pricing.

Which is correct? Does anyone have this on a policy or 'in writing' from NCL? Or is it just speculation, 'this is what happened to me' and 'YMMV'?

'50% off one bag per member', it says.

But does that mean:

Fill one bag up and pay a fixed 'bag rate'?

Each individually-priced item in one bag will be reduced by half?

If it's the fixed 'bag rate', how much is it?

Is it available any day or just on the same day as the 'bag rate' promotion is available to everyone?

TIA.

We stayed at Taverna La Corte last weekend, which is located on the island of Venice. We reviewed it as being good value for the price.

That's great NLH... But I'm asking if anyone can tell me the differences between NCL and MSC to help me choose between the two lines.

I'm surprised no one has been able to help with this one so far...

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I can't even keep up with NCL's changes

Have they made a lot of changes to Latitudes recently then? Apart from that one change where they changed the levels?

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That's right, they offer the program I mentioned.

I meant to ask if anyone who has been on both lines can tell me the similarities and differences between them please?

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We'll turn Platinum with NCL in November. Naturally, if MSC are still offering their status match then, we'll take them up on the offer.

So at that point we'll no longer be bound to Norwegian (we consider the levels above Platinum to be worthless), and we'll start considering MSC in our cruise purchasing decisions.

To inform those decisions, I ask those who have cruised at Platinum level on both MSC and also NCL...

What are the differences please?

Loving the review. I'm getting on this next Sunday. One question, where you've said:

buses return to the dock at the same time or within 15-20 mins.

...what time plus or minute 15-20 mins was this? I'll be sure to get back before that rush. I'm guessing about eight thirty pm?

Thanks. Sam.

we aren't intending to do any ship sold trips this time

Us neither. We went looking online for reviews of the excursions that NCL sell, and ended up finding some really good cheaper and better alternatives.

But I wonder why they'd show the reviews to the US customers and not the UK ones?

Sam.

Thanks for your review of the things you did in Seattle. What did you think of the cruise?

On the right it shows the # of stars and reviews and if you click that it shows reviews.

I remember when it used to do this... but now all the reviews and the facility to review tours seems to have been removed.

Maybe they've only been removed for UK cruisers... Can anyone from the UK see the reviews for the excursions on their upcoming cruise?

Sam.

Ah well that's ok then. The coach will be able to make the '60 minute' transfer from Harvest Caye to Belize City as long as it can maintain a steady speed of at least 114mph for the whole journey. As you said....

The journey is the destination!

To be clear, I'm referring to the reviews on the actual NCL website where you book the excursions. There used to be reviews on the NCL website.

Have they been removed?

We used to be able to see other cruisers reviews of the excursions, and make booking decisions based on that. But I can't see them any more... have they been removed?

You take a boat

It's odd that they don't mention the boat, and they say that the coach journey is an hour to Belize City (where the 'Garifuna Cultural Museum' is) whereas it actually takes more like two and a half hours.

I think they must have listed this excursion in the wrong port....

Sam.

The attached image shows an excursion currently available whilst on Harvest Caye - an island.

Can anyone work out how it is possible to take a one-hour coach journey from Harvest Caye to Belize City?

Sam.

Most cruise passengers stay before or after cruise in Venice and pay top dollar for best Hotels an restaurants.

Maybe some visitors to Venice do that, but I didn't. I stayed in the cheapest hotel I could find. If I could avoid staying overnight I would. I think if I were boarding a cruise here I'd fly in on the day of boarding. Obviously if it's just a port of call for the day, personally I wouldn't book a hotel - I personally prefer to save my money.

I'm curious -- what is your horse in this race?

Only my own introspection.

As a 'air-tourist' to Venice this weekend, I was annoyed by the proliferation of cruise passengers, with their excursion stickers, on, blocking the picturesque alleyways like herds of cattle. It irked me that they will put very little into the economy, having already arranged breakfast and dinner on the ship, and probably being back in time for a late lunch as well. No hotels, no tourist tax, no meals or booze...

And then I thought ahead to my next cruise: How magical it would be to sail down the Guidecca Canal, and what a wonderfully cheap way to see Europe.

I asked the question because I'm pondering this dichotomy.