NCL Pre-Cruise Hotel Stay. How does it work?

[CruisingCamper]

We are arriving in Miami the day before our NCL Dawn sailing in February. I have booked a Pre-Cruise Hotel stay the the JW Marriott in Miami.

The reservation person told me that transportation to the hotel from the airport was not included. You have to get there on your own. But, transportation to the pier and breakfast are included.

What do you do with your luggage? Do they pick it up from your room?

What time do they usually take you to the pier? And how? A van or bus?

Thanks for any info you can provide..

[sottovoce]

Originally Posted by CruisingCamper

We are arriving in Miami the day before our NCL Dawn sailing in February. I have booked a Pre-Cruise Hotel stay the the JW Marriott in Miami.

The reservation person told me that transportation to the hotel from the airport was not included. You have to get there on your own. But, transportation to the pier and breakfast are included.

What do you do with your luggage? Do they pick it up from your room?

What time do they usually take you to the pier? And how? A van or bus?

Thanks for any info you can provide..

Our experiences with NCL pre-cruise hotel stays in London and Barcelona had them take us to the ship in buses at about 10 or 11 in the morning. We brought our luggage down to the lobby or bus. Would suppose you could get hotel staff to do that for you. In Barcelona they did transfer us from the plane to the hotel, but we may have booked air with NCL for that cruise--can't remember.

[bruinfan1967]

Originally Posted by CruisingCamper

We are arriving in Miami the day before our NCL Dawn sailing in February. I have booked a Pre-Cruise Hotel stay the the JW Marriott in Miami.

The reservation person told me that transportation to the hotel from the airport was not included. You have to get there on your own. But, transportation to the pier and breakfast are included.

What do you do with your luggage? Do they pick it up from your room?

What time do they usually take you to the pier? And how? A van or bus?

Thanks for any info you can provide..

Did you book it all with NCL? If so they should bring you too the hotel. My E-Docs for next weekend say that I have transportation to hotel from airport.

[garycarla]

I would log into the Marriott website and see if they provide a free shuttle. That might work.

[wahine56]

In Hawaii they had us leave our bags outside the door the evening before and they were picked up. We met the bus about 11:00AM for the pier. We did get transportation from airport to hotel. I would also check for hotel shuttle.

Pat

[ugen512]

Originally Posted by bruinfan1967

Did you book it all with NCL? If so they should bring you too the hotel. My E-Docs for next weekend say that I have transportation to hotel from airport.

You would only get transport from a/p to hotel if you booked CL air with it.

[CruisingCamper]

I did not book with air with NCL.

Thanks for the replys!!!

[DMH15]

For our transtlantic on the Jewel, we went in a night early (into Miami - stayed at the Sheraton Four Corners, I think) and had NCL provide us the transfers and hotel. We waited a long time in the lobby of the hotel. I would say at least 2 hours (longer than expected). I said I would never give a cruise line that much power in the future. In retrospect, I would have gotten in a cab and gotten to the ship a whole lot earlier. It was hot (even in April) and boarding was long. I was not in a suite that time (one of the motivating reasons to book a future suite). But, waiting in the lobby afforded us the time to meet some other pax who we became friends with and for that I am grateful.

So, on my last cruise, I flew into Santiago and what do you know, I let NCL do the transfers again... since Santiago to Valparaiso is so far away. This time, the transfer was easy, right from the airport. (I couldn't help flying int he day of the cruise, and it was non-stop). This time was in a suite, so the boarding process was a lot easier.

Both times were transfers by busses.

I guess I am just picky, I like to be one of the first ones aboard. I am like a little kid. I want to be on that ship as soon as they will let me.

[Budget Queen]

I would also compare booking this hotel directly and just adding a cab for the transportation to the ship. Many times, cruisebooked hotels are per person and at a much higher cost. Especially in Miami, there is no shortage of good hotels.

[Tchai Latte]

Originally Posted by Budget Queen

I would also compare booking this hotel directly and just adding a cab for the transportation to the ship. Many times, cruisebooked hotels are per person and at a much higher cost. Especially in Miami, there is no shortage of good hotels.

Agree with the Queen. We booked a precruise hotel with NCL and it was astronomical. Don't ask me why we did it (duh). We paid $700 per person on a 2 night stay in MontBlanc Barcelona last Sept. Not worth it. The price includes hotel, breakfast and transfer from hotel to ship. The precruise Sheraton hotel package offered by NCL in Santiago and in Buenos Aires are much better and worth the money but NOT MONTBLANC Barcelona.

[Tchai Latte]

Q:The reservation person told me that transportation to the hotel from the airport was not included. You have to get there on your own. But, transportation to the pier and breakfast are included.
A:You can book a transfer from the Airport to the Hotel through NCL. But this is additional cost.

Q:What do you do with your luggage? Do they pick it up from your room?
A:You leave your luggage outside your room and they haul it to the bus.

Q:What time do they usually take you to the pier? And how? A van or bus?
A:Time varies. I've always taken a bus for the transfer.
When you get to the hotel, look for the NCL desk. The cruise line usually sets-up a desk in the lobbly of the hotel. You can also check with the desk the departure time for the transfer to the ship. They usually asign a bus # or time.

If you are comfortable getting around on your own it maybe more economical to book on your own the hotel and get the taxi. I bet there are lots of good deals in Miami. But if you want to just relax and kickback, the pre-cruise hotel package maybe the right thing for you.

Enjoy your cruise

Originally Posted by CruisingCamper
We are arriving in Miami the day before our NCL Dawn sailing in February. I have booked a Pre-Cruise Hotel stay the the JW Marriott in Miami.

The reservation person told me that transportation to the hotel from the airport was not included. You have to get there on your own. But, transportation to the pier and breakfast are included.

What do you do with your luggage? Do they pick it up from your room?

What time do they usually take you to the pier? And how? A van or bus?

Thanks for any info you can provide..

[CruisingCamper]

Originally Posted by Tchai Latte

Q:The reservation person told me that transportation to the hotel from the airport was not included. You have to get there on your own. But, transportation to the pier and breakfast are included.
A:You can book a transfer from the Airport to the Hotel through NCL. But this is additional cost.

Q:What do you do with your luggage? Do they pick it up from your room?
A:You leave your luggage outside your room and they haul it to the bus.

Q:What time do they usually take you to the pier? And how? A van or bus?
A:Time varies. I've always taken a bus for the transfer.
When you get to the hotel, look for the NCL desk. The cruise line usually sets-up a desk in the lobbly of the hotel. You can also check with the desk the departure time for the transfer to the ship. They usually asign a bus # or time.

If you are comfortable getting around on your own it maybe more economical to book on your own the hotel and get the taxi. I bet there are lots of good deals in Miami. But if you want to just relax and kickback, the pre-cruise hotel package maybe the right thing for you.

Enjoy your cruise

Originally Posted by CruisingCamper
We are arriving in Miami the day before our NCL Dawn sailing in February. I have booked a Pre-Cruise Hotel stay the the JW Marriott in Miami.

The reservation person told me that transportation to the hotel from the airport was not included. You have to get there on your own. But, transportation to the pier and breakfast are included.

What do you do with your luggage? Do they pick it up from your room?

What time do they usually take you to the pier? And how? A van or bus?

Thanks for any info you can provide..

Thanks for all the great info!!! I appreciate your help!! As far as the cost, I thought it was pretty reasonable for 3 people, sicne it included the hotel stay, transfer to pier and breakfast.

[Budget Queen]

Just my traveling style, but I would NEVER leave my bag "outside" the door for pick up. I would definately be hauling it myself TO THE BUS, and see it loaded. Same with airport transfers. The more direct the transfer, the better it is to not get lost, or at least know in the tracking how far it got.

[Barb Nahoumi]

I did a pre & post cruise hotel stay in Hawaii. A transfer bus was included in the deal at both ends, since everything was booked through NCL. My luggage was taken from the plane to the bus, then to the room. Next day it was transfered to the ship, but I had to bring it downstairs myself.

Post cruise-----The hotel did put us in the wrong room, but corrected the situation. For Hawaii, this is the relaxed way to go. Flew home to Boston, the next night.

[jocap]

When we did the full NCL package, we were met at Barcelona airport, then taken to the Confortel hotel. On the cruise morning, we had to leave our cases in the locked bedroom by 10am. Most of us sat in the lounge, and watched the cases being brought down to the lobby. No probs!- jocap.

[CruisingCamper]

I guess we could take our own luggage down to the bus with us. Surely, they have bellmen to help you get it there.

[CruisinDoug]

We have booked a one night pre-cruise stay through NCL and have stayed at the Sofitel in Miami for the last 3 years. NCL does not supply transfers to the hotel, but the Sofitel has a free shuttle that you call for and is only 5 minutes away. Go on the internet and find your hotel and see if they have a free shuttle. Also, if you have a cell, enter their number to use if you need to call them.

On departure day they request your bags be out by 6:30 AM, but you can wait as long as until 11 AM to take them down to the lobby for the short bus ride to the ship at about 11:30.

By the way, at the Sofitel breakfast is not included.

But your on vacation, relax.

[CruisingCamper]

Originally Posted by CruisinDoug

We have booked a one night pre-cruise stay through NCL and have stayed at the Sofitel in Miami for the last 3 years. NCL does not supply transfers to the hotel, but the Sofitel has a free shuttle that you call for and is only 5 minutes away. Go on the internet and find your hotel and see if they have a free shuttle. Also, if you have a cell, enter their number to use if you need to call them.

On departure day they request your bags be out by 6:30 AM, but you can wait as long as until 11 AM to take them down to the lobby for the short bus ride to the ship at about 11:30.

By the way, at the Sofitel breakfast is not included.

But your on vacation, relax.

Thanks!! My problem is that I am flying into FLL, not MIA, so we'll have to do a shuttle or taxu to the hotel. I have one that I think that I'm going to use, if the price is reasonable. I'm glad that they take you to the ship before noon, that way you can enjoy another day onboard. I love the first day!! We have never been on NCL before, so we are looking forward trying something new!