TrumpyNor

NCL shore excursion priority is ONLY for tender ports. And in Santorini, you have no choice but to get tendering from NCL in to the "regular port" where the cable car station is located. And for your information most private shore excursions for Santorini island are available from the upper cable car station - in Fira town (the capital of Santorini), not from the old port. There are also boat tours that goes from the regular Santorini port to the old port, ticket office is located on the pier.

I actually believe that NCL offers various flavored water in their buffet restaurants (free of charge) - I am not sure that is with bubbles though....

That obviously varies a bit then, as we have been to Bergen with NCL twice in recent years - once with the Star and once with the Jade, and both times we docked where it is marked on the map as Cruise Terminal Bergen. This photo is taken from the Fløien mountain and it shows the Star on the right hand side of the photo.... And even if the ship is docking at the Jektevikstermal this time, it is still less than 20 minutes walk from the pier to the funicular station.... So the essence of my reply would be the same anyway. 😊

Yes, if you plan your day well. For the Ulriken cable car we experienced a very long line to get "on board", as the weather was very nice that day and "everyone" seemed to be waiting in that line. Would probably be a good idea to get there early in the morning, then when you are back down take a taxi from the lower station if the Ulriken cable car to the Fløibanen funicular, and after that just explore the city on foot.

Actually there are two different "funiculars" in Bergen, and both offer spectacular views and are worth a visit, as the views are very different - and the "way to the top" is also very different. We have done both while visiting Bergen on a cruise - allthough on two different occasions. The photos below I have taken myself. The more touristic Fløibanen is a regular funicular up the steep hill and offers a nice view over the city centre of Bergen and its surroundings: And the other one is a regular cable car, it is called Ulrikenbanen and takes you to the top of Ulriken mountain (a popular spot for the locals to go hiking). And the view from there is even more spectacular:

Actually the funicular station of Fløibanen is located less than 20 minutes walking distance from the port, so not really any need for bus transportation unless you have difficulties walking.

Nope, not in suite or Haven. Maybe just some extra "non-official" benefit as we were only ones onboard with Diamond status? I didn't realize that the complimentary Latitudes sparkling wine was not offered anymore....

Personally I love prosecco, "all types", but I really dislike the Duc sparkling wine NCL for years used to offer (and maybe still does?) as complimentary welcome for Latitude members. Last year we went back to cruising again for the first time after covid - and did two NCL cruises with the Gem and the Escape in July/August 2022. A nice surprise that on both occasions we received a proper prosecco and NOT the Duc on embarkation day. I honestly thought that NCL finally had gotten rid of their entire stock of Duc and now were offering actual prosecco instead. But maybe the explanation was just that both cruises started in an Italian port..... Well, we were satisfied as it definitely tasted MUCH better than the Duc...

When we did a Mediterranean cruise with NCL in May 2019, and the only place we could watch the Eurovison finale on board, was in our stateroom. It was one of the European channels offered, and it was not English spoken (could have been Spanish, but unfortunately I don't remember anything specific. But as the finale is usually broadcasted bi- or tri-lingual anyway, that was not a problem.

Prosecco is considered as "wine by the glass" and priced below $15, so is absolutely offered/included in FAS "regular" drink package.

Usually NCL tender tickets are distributed at a "first-come-first-served" from a certain time the evening before arrival at the tender port. The time will be announced both over the "intercom" system and in the Freestyle Daily - but just be aware that some times they leave the tender tickets "up for grabs" even before the scheduled time, so always a good idea to show up early. NCL usually arrive in Santorini after lunch and not in the morning, so the tendertickets may get distributed that same morning instead of the previous evening. If you are in a suite, you will get priority tender service and don't need any tenderticket (your concierge will excort you to the tender using some "behind-the-scene-shortcuts"). If you have booked a NCL shore excursion, then you don't need any tenderticket either - you will get access to priority tenders when your tour is called in the theater.

That was our experience as well, on the Gem in July 2022. Fabulous service at Cagney's and the opposite at Le Bistro (and usually Le Bistro is our favorite - but not on that cruise....).

I just checked my own account and all points are there and my Latitude status is also correct.

My point is that I go to the front of the line, show my ship card and get escorted to a table within minutes (instead of waiting in line).

Still two dinners, but only one that includes a bottle of wine.

I just show the host/hostess my ship card that shows my Diamond status, and say that my Latitudes status usually gives priority seating and ask politely if that may be possible at that time. The result is then usually that we have a table within 5 minutes.

Allthough it doesn't happen often, this is not really a "new thing". Back in 2019 I was supposed to host a M&G on a Mediterranean cruise, where our first seaday was day 3 of the cruise, which was confirmed by the regular e-mail a couple of months before the cruise started. Then on embarkation day evening (!), I was notified that they had changed the date to the first port day on our itinerary, which was the very next day/so day 2. And the time was one hour AFTER the pre-sceduled docking time. No need to say that no-one (myself included) could participate at that time, majority of us had shore excursions booked. Also difficult to reach everyone who had signed up for it with such short notice. In 2022 I had a similar experience TWICE (on two different cruises), where they (NCL) moved the meeting time one hour ahead than the pre-scheduled meeting time. I totally understand that the meeting times are not "set in stone" and that NCL may change date, time or location for various reasons. But it seems to be happening more often lately....

Like others have posted before me, when the itinerary has an overnight stay in port, the ship will simply be your "hotel" for the night.

When it comes to the "priority dining benefit", I have often (with great success) also referred to that when there is a long waiting line to get in to any of the complimentary restaurants. Of course done discretely, politely and with a smile - and that often has resulted in us getting a table very quickly....

There was a recent increase in the daily service charges as well, be rebooking you would get the new rates for that (just a few dollars per cruise though). 🙂

I believe that OP is talking about purchasing a regular upgrade, not the "upgrade advantage program".

Yes, as long as you are going UP in category (and price - even if it is only $1,00). I have done it numerous times in the past - purchased a regular upgrade after final payment. Just be aware that you will then get current promotional perks (sometimes different than what you had with your original reservation).

I am sorry that I somehow misunderstood your initial question. Actually most Norwegians have never been to Spitsbergen, and it is considered very "exotic" for us Norwegians as well. I am sorry that I don't really have much input for you in that regard, except providing you with the link to the official tourist information office for Spitsbergen/Svalbard: https://en.visitsvalbard.com/visitor-information/travel-information/tourist-information-centre Right now Norwegian authorities are actually considering making visits to Spitsbergen/Svalbard much more regulated and limited in a very close future. And one of the things that is considered is only allowing cruise ships that has maximum 200 passengers. Meaning that most cruise ships would not be allowed near Spitsbergen at all. The reason behind it is the negative impact on the volnurable nature in Spitsbergen the large number of cruise ships in the last few years has caused.

Since summer of 2023 is the first year NCL is doing those cruises, no-one knows.....yet. I am booked on a cruise from Tromso to Iceland myself, for August 2023. Since your cruise isn't until 2025, I suggest you to follow some of the Star roll calls with similar itinerary for 2023 and 2024.

Usually you can use one cruise next voucher per booking, but sometimes NCL have special offers where you can use two CruiseNext vouchers. Right now this is the offer: CRUISENEXT DOUBLE! OFFER Booking Window: February 7th, - March 16th ,2023 11:59pm ESTOffer Details: Book a Balcony or above stateroom on any sailing booked at least 4 months in advance and apply TWO CruiseNext, CruiseNext Haven or CruiseNext Lite depositsOffer valid for sailings beginning in 2023 and forward:Guests must book at least 4-months prior to sailing for any sailing in 2023 and forward