Going crazy to find good European cruise on NCL for 2017

[pokerpro5]

Hi everyone.

 

I am not very familiar with NCL's European routes. I looked them up for 2017 and was disappointed. It was limited to Mediterranean cruises mostly in the summer (too hot!), and fjord cruises in October.

 

I am taking my son, who is in school (late August through mid June, with the usual spring, Thanksgiving, and winter breaks), and was hoping to find either a summer fjord cruise (ideal) or a winter/Thanksgiving Mediterranean cruise.

 

I found neither... in 2017.

 

I did find some perfect fjord cruises in 2018 in July, but I can't book them because they are too far out, and I use land based casino certificates. For those, I need to wait until after February 1 of that same year to do my booking.

 

So here are my questions:

 

1) Are the summer fjord cruises new for 2018? Or are the 2017 just sold out, and thus not appearng?

 

2) Are there any winter/Thanksgiving Mediterranean cruises? Are these sold out, or just don't exist?

 

3) If I book the July 2018 fjord cruise right now normally (not through casino) as a "placeholder", can I change it to a casino booking in February 2018? I will still be well within cancellation, but I am wondering if I can do a placeholder booking so they can't claim sold out.

 

Basically I am looking for any European cruise in 2017 during one of the "no school" periods which is not sold out.

 

Any help would be appreciated.

[littlelulu01]

The Jade is doing a variety of the Fjords cruises for 2017 and 2018. There's some really good itineraries with two 14 nt and one 15 nt that include Norway, Iceland and UK but they are May, August and Sept. Some really good 9 plus night sailings as well for the Fjords during the summer months.

[Sauer-kraut]

The Baltic Captials is a great cruise as well!

[KeithJenner]

I haven't got all of the sailing details easily to hand, but will say this about the 2017 itineraries.

 

NCL have added an Iceland cruise during August, which for many of us is a massive improvement. Iceland isn't easy to get to in August (UK school holidays) as most lines are in the Fjords at that time. We had found it difficult to find many other options on other lines and had started to resign ourselves to having to wait until our son was old enough to be left at home before going there on a cruise. This is certainly worth considering.

 

This does mean that there is a two week gap in Fjords cruises in August (and at some other times) as just one ship does both. However, the week before our Iceland cruise, the Jade is doing the Fjords, so I don't understand why you aren't seeing them.

 

As said above, the Baltics is also a great option during the Summer.

 

I also don't understand why you aren't seeing Med cruises during the Winter. The Spirit is staying in Europe, and usually does a mixture of Western Med or Canary Islands cruises during the winter. I'd have thought that there are options during that time in the Med.

 

I also wouldn't rule out the Med in the Summer. Yes it's hot, but those are some great itineraries. I hate it when it's too hot, but will stand anything for those cruises (and it never feels too bad to me anyway, even cruising in August).

 

I wonder whether there is something wrong with NCLs search facility. After many years of having just one ship in Northern Europe doing a mixture of Baltics, Fjords and Iceland, they now have two ships there with lots more options but you aren't the first person to say that there doesn't seem to be much (a criticism I don't recall seeing in previous years). I have to say it doesn't make sense to me.

[KeithJenner]

Just doing a very quick search I see a variety of Med cruises on the Spirit this winter and next, although a quite a few of the ones in the coming months are sold out in many categories.

 

There are North Cape itineraries on the Jade (which are largely extended Fjord cruises) in July as well as the Flord one I mentioned in my previous post leaving in late July.

 

There is a quite good Rome to Barcelona Med cruise on the Spirit next November (ending on Thanksgiving I believe), followed directly by a Canaries cruise.

 

Lots of options.

[pokerpro5]

Just doing a very quick search I see a variety of Med cruises on the Spirit this winter and next, although a quite a few of the ones in the coming months are sold out in many categories.

 

There are North Cape itineraries on the Jade (which are largely extended Fjord cruises) in July as well as the Flord one I mentioned in my previous post leaving in late July.

 

There is a quite good Rome to Barcelona Med cruise on the Spirit next November (ending on Thanksgiving I believe), followed directly by a Canaries cruise.

 

Lots of options.

 

Not seeing these.

 

Are these 5-8 day cruises? Because that's all I qualify for.

 

Should have stated that in my original post.

[KeithJenner]

Not seeing these.

 

 

 

Are these 5-8 day cruises? Because that's all I qualify for.

 

 

 

Should have stated that in my original post.

 

 

 

I think that's your problem. All NCL Fjords cruises are about 9-11 days and the Spirit tends to do longer ones (Canaries are about 10 days and the Med are slightly longer if anything).

 

On top of that, the Baltics cruises are generally 9 days.

 

The 7 day European cruises that NCL offer are mainly the Epics Western Med round trips and the Eastern Med ones which the Spirit is doing next Summer, which tend to alternate between two different itineraries.

 

Both of those are during the Summer, so you would get hot, but I think that they are worth it for the itineraries.

[Doughboy139]

The Baltic Captials is a great cruise as well!

The Baltic Capital Cruise is truly a great cruise - it covers six different countries - Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Russia, Finland and Sweden.

You are able to get down to Berlin, Germany if you choose or if you stay at the port itself - it is delightful. Helsinki, Finland and Tallin, Estonia are two charming countries - the old time charm and amazing with their history. St Petersburg, Russia ( a two day stay) is beyond belief. You wouldn't be disappointed at all and again so much history. Sweden is beautiful and again won't disappoint - There is a very old ship there - not to be missed (sorry but the name escapes me at the moment - starts with a V if I remember correctly.) Copenhagen has so much to offer - Tivoli Gardens is a must. We really enjoyed the Baltic Capital cruise and have taken it twice and hope to take it again in the future - it is that interesting. Peter and Carol

[4774Papa]

Flying to Europe just for a 6 days cruise is waste of money. I understand that people have work or school schedules that limit their time for travel.

 

I understand that airfares to Europe are cheaper this year, but normally a coach east from the east coast of the USA to Europe will run $1000-$1200 pp.

[Jetlagged787]

Flying to Europe just for a 6 days cruise is waste of money. I understand that people have work or school schedules that limit their time for travel.

 

I understand that airfares to Europe are cheaper this year, but normally a coach east from the east coast of the USA to Europe will run $1000-$1200 pp.

 

How much?! Wow!

 

I have never seen mention on these boards of the excellent service and prices by the airline, Norwegian.com. No connection with NCL by the way. Just as one example: 7 July to 21 July 2017, round trip JFK to Copenhagen (boarding point for some Baltic cruises) is $521.40. This is a low cost airline, so that is the basic starting fare. With one case in the hold, a meal and reserved seat the price goes to $701.40. We flew coach with them from London to Puerto Rico this year and I could not fault the service. They fly from your west and east coasts to London and their home bases in Norway and Denmark, among others.

[KeithJenner]

Flying to Europe just for a 6 days cruise is waste of money.

 

 

 

I have to disagree. Obviously longer would be better, but a holiday is a holiday and you have to take what you can.

[4774Papa]

How much?! Wow!

 

I have never seen mention on these boards of the excellent service and prices by the airline, Norwegian.com. No connection with NCL by the way. Just as one example: 7 July to 21 July 2017, round trip JFK to Copenhagen (boarding point for some Baltic cruises) is $521.40. This is a low cost airline, so that is the basic starting fare. With one case in the hold, a meal and reserved seat the price goes to $701.40. We flew coach with them from London to Puerto Rico this year and I could not fault the service. They fly from your west and east coasts to London and their home bases in Norway and Denmark, among others.

 

I know that my Daughter and her family is going on a Norwegian North Cape cruise next Summer and got RT tickets from Boston to Hamburg for less than $500. I was not on a discount airline.

 

I routinely check the discount airlines and many don't serve the airports that I could reasonably use without paying for a domestic ticket in addition. Also, some of those flights like Icelandic are not direct flights to Europe.

 

I had friends that used Norwegian Air and had many problems, and will never flying them again. We had a cruise out of Copenhagen three years ago and that airline didn't have a great price compared to the mainline airlines.

 

Others that I know flew on Turkish Airlines to get to Italy and had to fly from the USA to Istanbul then back to Rome. Sure, they save a couple of hundred dollars, but that is too much for me.

[TrumpyNor]

The Jade is doing a variety of the Fjords cruises for 2017 and 2018. There's some really good itineraries with two 14 nt and one 15 nt that include Norway, Iceland and UK but they are May, August and Sept. Some really good 9 plus night sailings as well for the Fjords during the summer months.

 

The Jade is sailing from Hamburg to Iceland in July (not "only" in May, August and September), with stops in Norway and UK along the way (14 days). Jade is also doing a 14 days cruise with only Norwegian ports of call all in July.

 

In my opinion NCL are offering the best European cruise itineraries they have ever had for the summer of 2017, a lot of totally different cruise itineraries to choose from....

Edited December 22, 2016 by TrumpyNor

[fabnfortysomething]

I think that the OP is looking at a cruise maximum 8 days is the problem

 

We in Europe have more holiday entitlement and want longer cruises

 

plenty of choice for 9-14 days and that's what I would prefer

 

and I know regardless of cost of transatlantic airfare the jet lag alone would mean I would want at least a week to make the most of my holiday

[Jetlagged787]

I'm sorry to hear that your friends had a bad experience with Norwegian Air, 4774Papa. I can only speak as I find and both legs of our round trip were excellent. Both flights arrived early, the cabin crew were friendly and efficient and, despite riding coach on a low cost, the leg room was better than a lot of full fare carriers I have flown. We even enjoyed the meals!

[Doughboy139]

If your looking for an airline flying to Europe, check out Iceland Air....great company and reasonably prices.....flight from Boston to Copenhagen runs $445.00 one way........Boston to London is $400.00.....I have used them 4 times already and have not been disappointed.

[Kevin JG]

We got a great deal for the 9th August 17 from Southampton to the Norwegian Fjords [emoji106]

 

 

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Edited December 24, 2016 by Kevin JG

[zqvol]

Hi everyone.

 

I am not very familiar with NCL's European routes. I looked them up for 2017 and was disappointed. It was limited to Mediterranean cruises mostly in the summer (too hot!), and fjord cruises in October.

 

I am taking my son, who is in school (late August through mid June, with the usual spring, Thanksgiving, and winter breaks), and was hoping to find either a summer fjord cruise (ideal) or a winter/Thanksgiving Mediterranean cruise.

 

I found neither... in 2017.

 

I did find some perfect fjord cruises in 2018 in July, but I can't book them because they are too far out, and I use land based casino certificates. For those, I need to wait until after February 1 of that same year to do my booking.

 

So here are my questions:

 

1) Are the summer fjord cruises new for 2018? Or are the 2017 just sold out, and thus not appearng?

 

I have no idea about this one, but are you limiting yourself to only a few weeks or are you looking at the whole summer season.

 

2) Are there any winter/Thanksgiving Mediterranean cruises? Are these sold out, or just don't exist?

 

There are plenty, but it is cold in southern Europe at that time of year.

 

3) If I book the July 2018 fjord cruise right now normally (not through casino) as a "placeholder", can I change it to a casino booking in February 2018? I will still be well within cancellation, but I am wondering if I can do a placeholder booking so they can't claim sold out.

 

I doubt that they are going to "claim" a cruise is sold out. However all of the casino spots may be gone quickly, and that might prevent you from using a casino certificate.

 

Basically I am looking for any European cruise in 2017 during one of the "no school" periods which is not sold out.

 

Any help would be appreciated.

 

The problem you are having is multi faceted.

 

You want to cram a 14 day cruise into 7 or 8 days.

You are limited by having to have a casino booking

Your time frame is very compressed.

 

Look above for some answers to your questions.

[luvtheships]

I agree that the Ncl cruises in Europe are just so so. We aren't ready for the Baltic yet so we chose a land based 2 week trip for July 2017

 

Looked at the star Adriatic but eh not really worth the time or $$ we felt

 

So it will be 4 nights Paris 5 nights Rome 4 nights sorrento

 

Btw airfare NYC to Paris. Paris to Rome. Naples to NYC. $765 total. Per person

 

Hint....if you are doing a split city trip like I am buy the long haul flights separately from the short haul

 

Had I booked NYC/Paris/Rome then Naples/NYC as one booking the price was $1700 per person

 

So buy your r/t long haul as one tix. We are on delta

 

And buy your puddle jumper short haul as a separate tix. We are on Alitalia and for that we got checked luggage included for $75 per person

 

Long haul flight. $695 plus short haul flight $75. Total $765.

 

 

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Edited December 24, 2016 by luvtheships

[sverigecruiser]

Flying to Europe just for a 6 days cruise is waste of money. I understand that people have work or school schedules that limit their time for travel.

 

 

Lots of Europeans travel to the US just for a 2-4 nights weekend. I dont think thats waste of money.

[littlelulu01]

I noticed the 14 night cruise I have booked on the Jade September 11, 2017 went from plenty of cabins available yesterday to sold out and now today isn't listed as available for booking. See some other big gaps for Jade 2017 Europe dates as well. Hopefully it's just a website glitch.