Just booked my first NCL cruise

[Queen of Adventure]

Sailing the Pride of Aloha March 2005

 

And I've got just a couple of questions:

1)What is the differenct between and AB and an AC suite?

 

2)What experiences have folks had booking airfare through the cruiseline?

 

3)Do I need to make special arrangements for sugarfree (aka no sugar added) diet?

 

Thanks, y'all

Ahnalira

[ally10169]

I don't have answers to your questions but just wanted to say Congrats on your first NCL cruise! Our first one is coming up at the end of May and we are so excited! The folks at this NCL board are so nice and full of info. I am sure someone will be answering your questions in no time!

 

Allyson

 

Till our 10th annivesary cruise without the kids!

 

[bigmike7]

Yo Ahnalira-

 

You may want to look on www.cruisestateroom.com to see if the "Pride of Aloha" is shown on there yet (isn't that the former NCL "Sun" ? - if so I am sure that it is on that site and the suite classifications should be the same)-

 

I have seen elsewhere on these boards where folks have booked with Pleasant Hawaiian for pre and post stay hotel and airfare for less than airfare alone - you should be able to beat the cruise line prices for airfare - unless they are part of a promotional package - which then is very hard to beat-

 

The sugar free thing should be as simple as having your TA make it a part of your reservation notes-

 

Happy Cruisin'

 

Mike

 

Fairsea'86-Mexican Riviera

Stardancer'88-Mexican Riviera

Crown Odyssey'00-E. Med

Dream'01-W. Med

Sky'01-Hawaii

Regal'02-Alaska

Norway'02-E. Carib

Norway'03-E. Carib

Elation'03-Panama Canal

Norway "Royal Suite" 07/04/04-CANCELLED!!

NCL "Crown" 04/04/2004 - Canada/Colonial

"We have never had a BAD cruise - some were just BETTER than others"

[zimmerjulie]

For question #2,

You don't usually save money booking air through the cruise line (if you shop on your own for a sale fare). Also, you do not have control over the choice of airport, flight times, number of connections, etc. The airlines usually sell their flights up until a few months prior to the cruise, then the cruise lines get what is left over. NCL does not book seat assignments and there usually aren't a lot of good seats left by the time the cruise line gets you your airline information.

 

One way to avoid these pitfalls is to pay for the "Premium" Air Service. This will allow you to make choices regarding your air travel. In most cases you (or your T/A) will still have to make your own seat assignments, but you should have the flight information much sooner than with the Regular plan.

 

The other option is to buy your airline tickets independent of your cruise reservation. Make sure to arrive at least a day in advance of your sailing date, to avoid missing the ship and not having the cruise line accountable for the air. (I would plan to arrive a day early, no matter what, especially to Hawaii).

 

In some unforseen circumstances (cancelled sailings, etc) it is better to have the cruise line responsible for the air aspect of your travel as well, to make refunds, etc easier. On the other hand, if you purchase a ticket from the airlines and are, for some reason, unable to make the trip, you can apply most of the cost of the ticket to another airline trip anyway (after penalty/change fee).

 

Hope this helps,

Julie

[Sandycruise]

I don't really have anything to add to answer your questions, BUT I wanted to say CONGRATS!!! Enjoy your cruise and I hope it is everything you want it to be!

 

Sandy

Carn. Jubilee, Nov 13,2000

NCL Sea, July 22,2001

Cel Zenith Oct 19, 2002

Carn. Pride Aug 27, 2003

NCL Dawn, Oct. 31, 2004 (find us at the roll call!)

Sandy and Len, Mom and Dad, BahamaMomma, DJ and family

http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=5023051067&m=7733089657

 

 

[smeyer418]

welcome and enjoy your cruise. NCL always has sugar free available. Even in the Chocolohics buffet they have a sugar free table. They have a cookinglight menu and while you should have your TA notify NCL(although I am not sure exactly why) you won't have a problem.