Ozzie's Mom

Any tips, tricks, hints to avoid hassle and lines? What is your approach to embarkation day? Thanks!

Begin by pulling out all of the clothes/shoes you think you'll need to pack and then put half of them back in the closet. You'll be much happier in the end.

On embarkation day, before you get to the pier, set your mind that you are ON VACATION and you will flow like water to those points of least resistance! You will not allow others to spoil your zen.

Use the luggage tags you were sent from NCL or download them and apply one to each bag you will be dropping off curbside at the pier. TIP the baggage handler. NOTE: If you want to enjoy the pool before your rooms are ready (generally about 1:30 PM), wear your swimsuit under your clothes or bring it in a small carry on bag. No need to bring towels.

Keep your entire party of 8 together. Read and follow the signs telling you which queue to join. Pass through the security area just as you would in an airport (you need photo ID and boarding docs). Remember that you are on vacation. Relax. People watch while moving forward, albeit slowly at times.

Have some ink pens ready as you will need to complete one "health" form per passenger and have that ready before it's your turn at the registration desk.

Hand your boarding docs, photo IDs/passports and health forms to the registration agent. S/he will need to take a photo of each person checking in, so fix your hair while waiting your turn!

S/he will hand you your room keys / ID cards and point you to your "holding" area. I REMOVE MY EXPENSIVE/DELICATE JEWELRY from my fingers and stow it safely in my carry on or pocket (you'll see why in a minute). Have a seat, relax, remember that you are like water, flowing to the path of least resistance, you are on vacation...

When your group is called to board the ship, collect all of your carry on bags and your children and follow directions to get up the ramp and onboard. At the top of the ramp, you will be greeted by the Happy Happy Washy Washy team who will spray your hands with sanitizer (hence, the jewelry removal).

Hand your key cards to the security person manning the computer. S/he will scan your card, compare your photo (remember straightening your hair earlier?) with your face and return your card to you.

When your entire party has cleared onboard security, they will attempt to herd you toward the buffet. You may choose, instead, to head to the pool area or to the main dining room for a less chaotic atmosphere and a better chance of seating your entire party together. NOTE: If you want to use the buffet instead (faster, more choice), get your meals and look for the LaCucina area which adjoins the buffet on most ships. Overflow seating for the buffet is here and it is much quieter than the cacophony of the buffet.

After lunch, explore the ship. NOTE: STAY OUT OF THE CABIN AREAS until the announcement is made that your room is ready. Remember that you are on vacation and soon, very soon, your ship will be underway and you'll feel that lovely ocean breeze against your face as you smell the salt water.

When your cabin is ready, go check it out! Be prepared for long waits at the elevators. Use the stairs if you are able (they afford you an optimal way to avoid the cranky crabby people who think they deserve to ride on THAT elevator even if the weight alarm is sounding and the door won't close).

If your luggage has already arrived, you are among the lucky few. Do not panic. In all likelihood, it will be there before time for dinner. If it's getting late and you still don't have it, ask your room steward whom you will have undoubtedly met at this point. Store your unpacked suitcases underneath the bed.

RELAX, ENJOY, EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY!

Remember as you prepare to leave the ship on your final day what a tremendous role your steward and the wait staff played to make your vacation AWESOME. Find them the night before disembarkation and reward them with an extra "thank you" in whatever form and to whatever extent you deem appropriate.

You'll need to place your packed bags outside your room the night before disembarkation. Don't forget to keep clothes, shoes, toiletries and medication out... you'll need to put those in your carry on bag the final morning.

Remember to empty the room safe and check underneath the bed for any stray socks before you walk out the door for the final time. Again, be water, flow to the path of least resistance. The queues to disembark are far worse than the ones to board.

HAVE A FABULOUS VACATION and be sure to post a review online so we know what you most enjoyed and what you'd do differently next time!

:D :D :D

I'm not the op of this thread but did contribute some negativity and frustration over my canceled cruise so feel the need to come back and post the outcome. Today NCL took care of me. They stepped up, did the right thing and let me book a replacement cruise on a valid date. I have a new respect for the company and could not be happier. Good luck to everyone else with their rescheduling efforts. It was a frustrating experience but for me it worked out in the end and I could not be happier. Wishing everyone luck.

That is so good to know, @Littlelulu01. I, too, am happy with my replacement cruise. I feel they went above and beyond. I had actually booked the "replacement" myself last week because I didn't want my preferred cabine to get away from me. They moved my perks over to this cruise, lowered the price I would have gladly paid booking it on my own, gave me some OBC and apologized for the inconvenience. :D :D :D

And the 25% off price is in addition to purchasing the entire cruise worth of days of specialty restaurants so what is your point? :confused: Either way you are not using a paid for specialty plus a paid for MDR. Unless you are a little piggy and do 2 specialties in the same night that is.

Wow! My point was that you said the price with SDP was $17 whatever. That is crap math, but I didn't want to say that. Jeesh. Someone had an extra giant helping of bitchflakes this morning.

Don't make me separate you two.:mad:

On hold for 1 hours 20 minutes' date=' so far.[/quote']

 

I called at exactly 9:00 Eastern and was on hold for 121 minutes, then spoke with the reservation agent, Vanessa, for 20 minutes (most of which was holding while she worked with the accounting team).

 

My Spirit cruise was canceled. I made alternate arrangements myself a day after getting the email. I called in this morning to see if I could get any additional perks "for my inconvenience."

 

Vanessa updated my new reservation to include all of the perks I lost on the original cruise and gave me a lower fare than I had been able to book for myself. I don't see on the invoice she sent though, the $1,000 credit I paid when I made the alternate reservation but I can take that up with the accounting dept in a while when things calm down a bit. It's on my Amex card so I'm not concerned.

 

Not a horrible experience at all. I'm satisfied.

 

 

On hold for 1 hours 20 minutes, so far.

While were on the subject of cruising Glacier Bay with NCL...

 

I've just got to butt in and share a photo with you! I shot this photo of the Norwegian Pearl cruising through Glacier Bay last summer, and it's one of my favorites of all the photos I've taken on cruises. Enjoy!

 

 

In case you're wondering how I got that shot...

I was cruising on the Coral Princess and I was shooting photos (from my balcony) of the amazing views in Glacier Bay. Imagine my delight when I saw a cruise ship in the distance... and my further delight when we got close enough to get this picture of her!

 

I also got a little bit of video of her, as well as some beautiful video of the scenery in Glacier Bay. Here's the video:

 

E0oUvR8UaTY

 

I hoped you enjoyed it, and that you'll pardon me for butting in to the conversation. I figured it would be OK since the OP's question had pretty much been answered at this point.

OUT. STANDING.

That is all.

Thanks so much for all of the wonderful pictures!

You are all arguing an off point issue. NCL took people's money for 4 ships worth of cruises that they had no intention of sailing. Sure, we don't know how long they actually knew but they certainly knew 5 days prior when they still offering the cancelled itineraries. Offering a replacement cruise a year earlier is ridiculous. If we wanted to sail a year earlier we would have booked it. If you want to sail when you booked, you lose your price and perks. It IS bait and switch. It is unethical and in many jurisdictions against the law.

 

Some regulation is already in place, the scrubbers for example. More is needed for serious issues like crimes on board, casino fair play, labour regs and a method for dealing with dispute resolution. I speculate that within the next decade, US congress will take action and if the ships want to dock in US waters they will have to follow the rules. I also think that the only people that regulation would affect negatively are shareholders and that is debatable.

 

The passenger bill of rights has been very positive for air travel.

Oh, good. More regulation. More laws. More government oversight. Just what is needed here. <rolling eyes>

It's a reservation. Reservations get canceled all the time. I can't tell you how many of my flights, meeting rooms, train schedules, doctor's appointments, hair cuts, lunch dates, ad nauseum, have gotten bumped, moved to new dates or cancelled completely. Stuff happens. It's not a conspiracy. Nothing to see here, move along.

Hope your "new" cruise is the most awesome vacation you've ever, ever had.

Two years ago I had booked and deposited for a Med cruise. About six months before they canceled and repositioned the ship. I just received an e-mail that they have now canceled another cruise I had booked and deposited for November, 2016, due to another repositioning of the ship. Totally unacceptable that they confirm reservations and then twice within two years cancel. If I re booked another cruise on the same ship within a few month period they would give me a $50.00 on board credit. Ridiculous.

 

Do many people have the experience of NCL canceling? I have been cruising over 50 years and have only experienced this on NCL. Very unprofessional.

I really enjoy the ability to book a cruise 2 years in advance. I take into consideration that many things can/will change between now and then, and that I can't book air travel and/or hotels until 1 year out.

When NCL told me my 2/2017 cruise was canceled, I was a bit bothered because I take a lot into consideration when selecting the "next" one on my hurry-up-and-get-here list. It's akin to saving room for that special dessert after dinner only to have the waiter tell you that they've just run out of death by chocolate. Rats! And, then I move on to my second choice.

I'd much rather have the ability to book 2 years out and take a longer risk than have NCL pull the schedules in to, say, a 1-year window where they would be more certain of what changes might be necessary.

You pays your money and you takes your chances, as they say. Remember, any day at sea is better than your best day at work. Hope you find a BETTER replacement.:)

Hello everyone! Is there anyone that saved any recent daily newsletters (dailies) from pearl? Can you please post them? We would appreciate it sooooo much! Thank you!!:D

I found dailies from June (Alaska) in another thread. Go here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2208197&highlight=pearl&page=2

Look about half-way down the page. Day 1 is separated from the other days by a few posts.

Happy milestone birthday and may you have many more, cancer free, with your loved ones and NCL.

Beautiful! We're booked in this suite exactly 601 days from now. Thanks for the photos!

My 7 y/o grandson and his parents desperately want to experience the water park when we are in Nassau aboard Escape next February.

Since we are in port only half the day, is it really worth the $ ? I've never been so I can't advise them.

I obviously need more coffee and/or spell check.

Aft suites on the Akasja cruise we booked several months ago are niw $3K more than what we paid.

I used Tours by Locals.

Depends on what State. I had to find a service in Miami that provided a seat; otherwise, I would have had to bring my own.

Oh how awful. Prayers for the families. I have reservations for that excursion in September.

Here you go. If you have questions, I will be happy to attempt to answer

On Day 5, Glacier Bay, what time should we plan to be on deck soaking in the views? I see so many things going on all over the ship. Wondering what is the best time to be "watching" and the other times we can be "participating."

Here you go. If you have questions, I will be happy to attempt to answer

Incredibly grateful. Thanks so much and I hope your cruise was fabulous!

I have the dailies from the May 31 Alaska cruise. I am posting the first to make sure it is readable. Please let me know if it is ok and I will post the others.

EXACTLY what I'm looking for! Please post the others for us!

I was wondering if anyone could recommend a van company that would take a group of 15 plus all the luggage from our hotel next to the Seatac airport to pier 66 on Sunday July 19. Super shuttle was a no go :(

Thanks

I would start here, even though this would not be a typical booking for this company. Their website states, "The minimum is 3 hours on Friday and Saturday and 2 hours Sunday through Thursday" so you'd be looking at a two hour charge but all 15 of you should be able to board one vehicle. Now, for the luggage... the few times I've used a similar vehicle, there was space in the back (a compartment at the end of the bus) for about 10 suitcases (checked bag size, not carry-on size) but they may have additional room or some could travel inside?

I'd give them a call or email to start. I'll bet they don't have many jobs booked for Sunday mornings! http://www.yourpartybus.com/?gclid=CK2t9tS2nMYCFRCEaQodbDoBqA

Just out of curiosity, why is Super Shuttle a no-go?

I was wondering if anyone could recommend a van company that would take a group of 15 plus all the luggage from our hotel next to the Seatac airport to pier 66 on Sunday July 19. Super shuttle was a no go :(

Thanks

Does everyone have to be in the same vehicle?

I don't think we really need to argue about this and everything else. As for NMlady, what she got may have been an earlier sailing or whatever, what you got may have been a recent change. I have seen it work both ways. On our last cruise which was in April, we didn't get anything at the end of the meal. I am not sure what difference all this makes anyway. The OP simple wanted to know about the gratuity. She got her answer way back when.

Not arguing and sorry if it appeared otherwise. Just stating difference in experience.

Gratuity was entirely optional in our case.