samshltn

So... 60, 68, 70, 30, 88... They should just say "You'll get your eDocs when we get round to doing them, so don't freak out about yours not being ready yet."

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How is the VAT calculated? Is it 20% of the whole cruise fare? Or 20% of the menu prices of the drinks that I would have to pay if the drinks were not free?

B) Since the cruise fare is zero-rated, and all I have paid is a cruise fare, how can I be charged VAT at all?

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I'm used to paying tax on drinks in US ports, and not in Caribbean ones... and I forget whether I did or not in other ports.

My question is: Is VAT charged on drinks whilst in port in the UK? Specifically Southampton/Southampton Water/The Solent etc.

Thanks,

Sam.

Like much of the information they give out, NCL are contradicting themselves:

The '?' button next to the online-check-in button says that it's 60 days. The video says that it's 30 days.

So, which is correct? And why can't NCL get their act together on anything?!

18% of the cost of each drink you order is the same as 18% of the total cost of all the drinks you order.

This is based on the "dinner for two" principle and my only being "one".

How did that go? Did it work?

My husband and I have just booked this. Any other FOD on it with us?

How do you find out if there are special entertainers on a ship?

I found out about this particular cruise right here on the forums.

In case anyone ever finds this thread and wants it in writing from NCL... Here's the email I just got from them:

Dear Mr Shelton,

Thank you for your email.

Please be informed that it is not a problem if passengers* check in at different time.

Check in begins at 1200pm until 0600pm and* for passengers that complete the online check in can check in until* 0700pm as the ship departs at 0800pm. You would need to inform the personnel on time of check in that the other passenger is arriving late.

Thanks and Regards,

Juliana Camilleri

Guest Services

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I'm watching Jade, fresh from dry dock, filling up with Kid Rock fans. Are any of you amongst them?

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We're joining Jade in Southampton, which for some passengers will be a port of call on their cruise. Presumably those guests getting off their to go on excursions etc will disembark in the usual way through deck 4, and re-embark in the same way. Will passengers like me who are joining the cruise there get on in the usual 'embarkation' port way? Through a psssenger bridge onto the lifeboat deck etc?

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Thank you all for your help with this.

There are some absolute BEAUTIES in this thread - I'm so grateful to all of you.

... If anyone knows where I can get one, please reply...

Don, I'll be getting ours made up by a company in the UK called 'WePrintLanyards', I just searched for them on Google. I see you're in the US, there must be an American equivalent.

Hi,

Like many of us, I like to wear my key-card/account-card on a lanyard around my neck. For this purpose I sometimes use my work ID lanyard, which says "REMOVE BEFORE FLIGHT" repeated along it, or a Duff Brewery one I got from Universal Orlando.

But... For my upcoming cruise with friends I'm thinking of getting some made that says "DO NOT REMOVE FROM SHIP" or "IF FOUND PLEASE RETURN TO BUFFET", or "NOT CREW" (for the Filipino member of our group!), etc.

Like this.

Does anyone have suggestions for what would be funny/clever/witty to get on my lanyard please?

TIA.

Sam.

One booking, two guests.

Guest One has the day off and can get to the port at noon.

Guest Two is working that day, can't get there till the last minute before boarding closes.

Can Guest One turn up on their own and board, and meet Guest Two on board?

TIA.

Sam.

Our group has grown - we're now a group of six!

Ah great, thanks. So it goes to berth 46, the Ocean Cruise Terminal. That means I've got time for a pint at the Admiral Sir Lucius Curtis just around the corner before we go. Cheers!

We're cruising from Southampton on Jade.

Do they always use the same terminal? If so, which one?

Thanks.

Sam.

Specialty dining and excursions can be booked by logging in to 'My NCL' and then 'Explore and Plan'.

...all pics are found online on social media...

Could you share those links/accounts with us please?

Sam.

I would also be interested in an answer to this if anyone knows please.

I'll be on it 2nd and 3rd June.

As a European NCL customer, I've become quite used to the nightmare of calling NCL and getting the Malta contact centre. Over the years I've lost count of the mistakes they've made: messing up my reservations and telling me that there's no availability to upgrade when I know that there is. We've taken to calling the brilliant US contact centre instead, and paying in dollars, but since Brexit the exchange rate has made this impossible.

This morning I noticed online that there was a great price to upgrade on my upcoming cruise. I called, and tried explaining this to the Malta contact centre. The lady told me that there was no availability, despite the website showing it. I thanked her and hung up.

But then I was thinking about how often this exact same thing has happened in the past. Is it that there is genuinely no availability? Or can they just not be bothered to do it for us? Are they incentivised to make new bookings, but not to upgrade exisitng bookings?

So I called again, and this time got the British contact centre. The man there confirmed that there was 'plenty' of availability in my chosen cabin class and took my card details. I was upgraded with no fuss or confusion. I've also had great service from the Frankfurt contact centre.

So my advice is this: When you call NCL in Europe, start the call with "Are you in the Malta contact centre?". If they say "yes", say "Thank you" and hang up. Repeat this until you get someone in Frankfurt or Southampton. They will be keen and able to help you, and will get things right for you.

Yes we're on this (four lads). Getting on in Southampton on 2nd June, off in Hamburg for the flight home.

Nice to meet you.

Sam.

Do you know what time we will be passing under the bridge?

I don't, but I'll be trying to find out once on board.

Why do we have to travel around Denmark to go under the bridge when we can simply head south to get to Germany?

I don't know if there's a better reason than 'it's scenic'. I know which option I prefer!

I'd never even heard of the Great Belt bridge before.

It's quite something. Picture the Golden Gate Bridge (the second-longest bridge in the USA) - it's like a big version of that. So... it's really cool that we'll get to sail under it. A lot of people will think I'm really boring but I'm an unapologetic civil engineering geek!

The Strait itself averages at about 15 miles wide, so it will be a really cool journey along it. We'll be passing through on the evening of the 25th, just four days after the longest day. At that latitude, sunset wont be till about 10pm, so I think there'll be quite a view!

And all that is on the first afternoon and evening! Navigating the Stockholm Archipelago (24,000 small islands!) and the islands of Helsinki harbour will be interesting experiences too, just for things to see from the ship.

And then there are the port days! Don't get me started, I'm too excited!