considering NCL

[ThisFemmeKat]

Ok as you can see I have only ever sailed Carnival.. And I am considering trying out NCL. I have heard good things.

 

I pride myself on finding the best deal on everything.. And I want to know how or where or when I am best to book NCL.. I live in Maine and would like to try them from Boston or possible New York to avoid airfare at least on this first test run..

 

Let the recommendations begin and tips and tricks please.. you guys are totally new to me.

[punkincc]

How did you book your carnival cruises? You can go to NCl.com and review current promotions, cruises leaving from your desired ports, cabin types and prices for various dates. You can book on the website or call NCL and speak to a booking specialist, a cruise consultant on NCL. Or you can book with an online travel agency for freebies like extra on board credit or free gratuities. I prefer to use a big box TA who can book group rates and give extras as well.

I would suggest you research the ships and itineraries and then start checking prices.

[Oldgoat61]

Because you want to cruise out of NY, that will limit the ships available. Time of year will also be a factor, as well as itineraries.

Check out CC, they have articles about high and low seasons for each destination you would want to cruise to...it's very informative.:)

I do all of my bookings thru an online TA....I get extra perks that way, or you can go directly thru NCL, it's about what ever you are comfortable with.

Happy hunting!!:D

[Calitexar]

Since you shop for value, and have only cruised Carnival, I recommend you use a TA for booking. He/she will have access to all cruise inventory and can put you at ease knowing you will not pay a premium to switch to Norwegian. Additionally, he/she will likely have a website that you can use to do your own comparisons, regularly checking incentives and promotions. East coast itineraries are available Fall & Winter to Bermuda and down to the Caribbean. Late November, Early December and Early January generally offer lowest rates.

[ThisFemmeKat]

thanks for the info.. i usually booked directly with CCL and thats because there is no benefit to booking with TA because carnival no longer allows perks and OBC etc. But with NCL these are options.. so I will look into it further with a TA. Just gotta find one. lol Since the rates are significantly different, I definitely want to try to get a good deal to help offset the higher rate..

[stormcastle]

We love NCL! and we mostly go on cruises from NY so we don't have to fly.

We are very happy with the NCL Gem cruise to the Caribbean--going this coming Jan and already booked for next year.

We watch all the sales and promotions but book most of our cruises through our Personal Cruise Consultant (PCC) at NCL. He has always done a great job for us.

[SMSACE6]

thanks for the info.. i usually booked directly with CCL and thats because there is no benefit to booking with TA because carnival no longer allows perks and OBC etc. But with NCL these are options.. so I will look into it further with a TA. Just gotta find one. lol Since the rates are significantly different, I definitely want to try to get a good deal to help offset the higher rate..

 

I have previously been on one NCL cruise back in 1999 and after that, did one on Celebrity and five on Carnival. All my Carnival cruises were booked directly with them, and so, when I decided I wanted to try a cruise on the Epic next year, I did the same, called them, booked, and called back a couple of times to make changes. Each time different reps, but all were helpful and knowledgeable. They did have my history available and I did get an OBC (small one), but more than I have ever gotten with Carnival. I cant wait for my cruise on Epic!:)

[kcdancerkc]

was go to some cheap cruises dot com or something like that

 

we have a carnival budget

 

We saw that there was a VERY affordable 4 day trip that runs every week on the Sky --- to Bahamas -- there is also a 3 day every week that does the same - same ship.

 

It does leave from FL -- the price was lower than what carnival offered

 

We figured it was a baby-step to trying NCL -- Leaving in 18 days!!!!!!

[hladygirl]

we try to book repositionong cruises when we can find them out of boston. nice long cruises for less $$ per night. 2010 took 15 night caribbean boston to new orleans in october. booked nov 1 2013 for 14 night caribbean boston to tampa. 14 night boston to new orleans (caribbean cruise) scheduled november 2015. each has aflight required but only one way. almost no children due to length of the cruise. we do not like to cruise for less than 14 days each trip. a 1 week cruise feels like a tease.just get relaxed and familiar with the ship and it is time to get off. they also do repo cruises back to boston in april.

[Lady Anna & Sir Troy]

Use off season to your advantage.

 

Jewel Class Ships are the best imho.

 

Do wet aside a little extra for specialty restaurants, they are well worth the splurge and skip extra like pics and bingo.

 

Look at Specials during Christmas time and Jan - Mar to book, their wave season has some of the best specials.

[luv2cruise53]

Hi, The new Breakaway begins sailing in May out of New York, Year round.....Some say it is slightly more expensive than Dawn out of Boston or Gem NY...but it is a mega ship, brand new and very highly anticipated. Airfare savings should make up for the slightly $$$$ added. It cruises to bermuda, May-September, Bahamas FL Oct thru April and there are 2 -12 day Southern Caribbeans in january, 5th and 19th. Great prices on the 12 day ...but 1 1/2 cold and 1/1/2 cold to and from but, ship so great who cares, still get 9 days in Caribbean....

[ThisFemmeKat]

Hi, The new Breakaway begins sailing in May out of New York, Year round.....Some say it is slightly more expensive than Dawn out of Boston or Gem NY...but it is a mega ship, brand new and very highly anticipated. Airfare savings should make up for the slightly $$$$ added. It cruises to bermuda, May-September, Bahamas FL Oct thru April and there are 2 -12 day Southern Caribbeans in january, 5th and 19th. Great prices on the 12 day ...but 1 1/2 cold and 1/1/2 cold to and from but, ship so great who cares, still get 9 days in Caribbean....

 

 

OMG thats exciting new.. only 6 hours from here.. i can drive or fly.. easily.. Thanks for the info.. I think I will be looking into this and booking for 2014.. cuz this coming year is all booked up already.

[lambchoplady]

My first cruise was on the Norwegian Majesty from Boston to Bermuda. I loved it! It was soooo relaxing not having to fly anywhere. The views of Boston during ail-away were fantastic. The Majesty is no longer part of the fleet, but NCL still does that cruise on the Dawn or Spirit, I think. I highly recommend it for a great escape.

[Lipz]

We've used a TA for every cruise booking no matter the cruise line so I have no comparison in terms of that. I do know that booking with a TA seems to give little perks that I don't really here people saying the cruise line it's self has given them. Even if it weren't for perks I like the personal touch of using a TA so that we are dealing with one person.

 

As for NCL, we were married on the Jewel out of NYC and had booked about 10 months in advance. The price was good enough that 12 other people cruised with us, and trust me we're broke and have broke family and friends!!! lol I really didn't even find it more expensive than Carnival which we've cruised the most because leaving from NYC cut out the need for air fare. As for the NCL experience one word.... FABULOUS!!!!

[newmexicoNita]

Ok as you can see I have only ever sailed Carnival.. And I am considering trying out NCL. I have heard good things.

 

I pride myself on finding the best deal on everything.. And I want to know how or where or when I am best to book NCL.. I live in Maine and would like to try them from Boston or possible New York to avoid airfare at least on this first test run..

 

Let the recommendations begin and tips and tricks please.. you guys are totally new to me.

 

OK, the best deals you will get will be off season, so if you are thinking warm weather cruising shoot for late Apr to mid May or the fall..

 

As for best way to get a deal, everyone has his/her own ideas about this. I think using a travel agent is the best as they will often throw in some perks, like OBC, a bottle or two of wine, maybe even pick up the cost or part of the cost of insureance. They are also the most knowledgable when it comes to ships, location on the ship and how to get the best deals. On line agents often have the best prices, the problem: you may not have any real contact and if problems arise, they are not always there to assist you.

 

Nita

[newmexicoNita]

thanks for the info.. i usually booked directly with CCL and thats because there is no benefit to booking with TA because carnival no longer allows perks and OBC etc. But with NCL these are options.. so I will look into it further with a TA. Just gotta find one. lol Since the rates are significantly different, I definitely want to try to get a good deal to help offset the higher rate..

 

I am a little confused; where did you get the idea agents can't offer perks anymore? There is a policy that most companies have put in place, that says prices have to be the same, regardless how a cruise is booked, but I am just now, an officially retired agent: I haven't done hardly any selling this year, but officially retire Monday. My last booking, I gave an OBC to my clients, and they were cruising on Carnival: this was last month. I think what you might be referring to, and that I am not sure of: the online agents can no longer publicize discounts or perks.

[radzer0]

I heard carnival and rcci have all kinds of OBC restrictions.

 

On another note, once you go on NCL you wont like carnival anymore.

[jdvmd]

I am a little confused; where did you get the idea agents can't offer perks anymore? There is a policy that most companies have put in place, that says prices have to be the same, regardless how a cruise is booked, but I am just now, an officially retired agent: I haven't done hardly any selling this year, but officially retire Monday. My last booking, I gave an OBC to my clients, and they were cruising on Carnival: this was last month. I think what you might be referring to, and that I am not sure of: the online agents can no longer publicize discounts or perks.

 

Just wanted to say Happy Retirement!"

[halos]

OMG thats exciting new.. only 6 hours from here.. i can drive or fly.. easily.. Thanks for the info.. I think I will be looking into this and booking for 2014.. cuz this coming year is all booked up already.

 

I find booking early yields the best deals, so 2014 is good!! I think it's great you are trying NCL. I hope you enjoy the line as much as I do. I much prefer it to Carnival, and I used to sail CCL pretty exclusively. I no longer really even consider that line. There have been too many changes that I didn't like. I am praying NCL doesn't go that route.

I just moved out of Maine. Sailing from NY is nice in that you don't have to worry about flying (which sucks). Sailing on NCL to Bermuda out of Boston is another good option. We did that this past Sept, right before we moved south.

Keep in mind, however, that you will pay a premium sailing from NY or Boston and sometimes it's actually worth flying to Florida if you can get a decent deal on air (which I know is difficult from PWM or Bangor)

[dinek1]

We love NCL. Going on a cruise, via Rome, to Mediterranean and Holy Land in less than 2 weeks!

 

We always book via an outside agency that includes travel insurance if taking a cruise that is 5 nights or longer. Excellent prices (most of time less than cruise lines) and very nice people.

 

Easy to cruise out of NYC on NCL.

[ZoeyVictoria]

was go to some cheap cruises dot com or something like that

 

we have a carnival budget

 

We saw that there was a VERY affordable 4 day trip that runs every week on the Sky --- to Bahamas -- there is also a 3 day every week that does the same - same ship.

 

It does leave from FL -- the price was lower than what carnival offered

 

We figured it was a baby-step to trying NCL -- Leaving in 18 days!!!!!!

 

Our "baby-steps" were two 2-night cruises within driving distance in Florida. We liked NCL enough to book the Getaway on the very first day bookings were opened (558 days in advance). Now we are keeping an eye on last-minute deals on the 3-night Sky.