hernando52

I'm on another social media platform for our upcoming end of November cruise and we have a discussion going on that no one seems to be able to give an explanation for.  My final cruise payment is due, July 30.  Another cruiser has a date of end August, and yet another cruiser has a date end Sept.  Does anyone know why we would have at least 3 different final payment dates?  The possibilities that we have guessed at are:  European vs US, the date of the original booking, or booking by travel agent vs directly with NCL.  Just curious at this point.......

My husband's coupon was for $50 (I didn't get one).  It expires Dec. 2022.  We could NOT use the coupon because we had used a previous coupon (from one of a few cancelled cruises due to Covid shutdown)....so, it isn't combinable with any other coupons on an existing reservation.  Seeing as we won't be booking another cruise in 2022, it will die in the account.....

I must be chopped liver.  DH got a coupon for $50 and I didn't get anything......Hopefully we can use the coupon for our already booked cruise....

14 hours ago, Goofyfigment said:

Got our flights today.  We are on Delta.  MCO to Atlanta - Atlanta to Rome.  Same on the return.  We leave Orlando at 130pm and get to Rome at 850am.  Home we leave Rome at 10am back to Orlando at 7pm.  Very happy with these flights.  My mother in law ended up with aircanada and she has to pay for seats and they still have mask requirements during flights and in airport. 

I'll cross my fingers that we get flights like this!!!!  Have a wonderful trip!

On 7/12/2022 at 7:10 AM, Goofyfigment said:

our cruise is in 31 days and we still have not received our flight info - we are flying from florida to rome so its an international flight.  we have gotten some emails from aircanada with flight info that would coincide with the trip but NCL told us that its just a placeholder when i called them about seat selection.  Seat Selection is a big one for me as i dont want to sit next to a stranger for 9 hours.  hoping to hear something soon.  

I hope that you keep us updated on how this all works out.  We are travelling R/T Orlando to Rome in 2023, and am curious as to what kind of flights NCL is booking....we'll have a 2 day deviation on each end and will have to make car parking & hotel arrangements if necessary.

We have had to make 3 claims in the past.  2 for me and once for my husband.  All were for trips to the medical department for sinus infections which required antibiotics.  Each visit cost over $300.  NCL provided all of the documentation (which we knew our insurance would not cover).  AON explained what we had to do & when all claims were denied by insurance, AON reimbursed everything.  It took time, and we did have to pay out of pocket while on the ship...I don't know if that is different with other insurances.  PS...I always travel with antibiotics now.

5 minutes ago, 1025cruise said:

Is it a real 2 week cruise or 2 7 day back to back?

 

It is a 14 day cruise....If they have 2 shows per night then it is not a problem, but if they only have 1 show per night on this smaller ship, then I'll have to set up my dining reservations with that in mind.

We'll be on the Dawn out of Tampa on a 2 week Caribbean cruise.  There are 3 shows listed as entertainment in the main theater.  We plan to see each show once.  Will the entertainment from Week 1 just repeat on Week 2?  Does anyone have any idea what the other theater entertainment has been?  I'll be making dinner reservations soon and would like to try not to have to redo them once I see the shows' schedules.   We like to catch the earlier shows, as we're old codgers who eat early and go to bed early!!

This attachment was flagged on my computer as having a virus in it

So long as there is no surge protection, you should be fine.  We bring along a multi-plug charger, plus we carry an adapter so that the European plug can be used for husband's CPAP machine.

We are scheduled to embark from Rome next year on a cruise which includes several Greek islands.  Covid testing rules may change again before we embark, but as of now, Covid testing has been eliminated before boarding in Rome.  If this cruise was starting in Athens, then we would have to do a pre-board test.  Does anyone know if we'll be able to take excursions/walk around in Greece without a previous Covid test?  We're fully vaccinated/boostered.  Trying to stay on top of this subject is like herding cats!!

Aft balcony on the Jade....the couple below us regularly sunbathed au natural, much to the delight of our next door neighbor.  As far as traumatizing onlookers goes, I am generally very thankful on a cruise that people ARE wearing clothes!!

4 minutes ago, julig22 said:

I've used the walgreens rapid NAAT test for 2 cruises, no problem.  But it was free then.  A video-proctored test is considerably cheaper at the moment.

Thanks for this information!  I have until October to decide which way we'll go with this, and really hoping that this requirement is dropped totally.

On 5/26/2022 at 8:00 AM, con3 said:

I think so to. It says rapid antigen or naat but then in parenthesis it has (I.e pcr) that is what threw me because its not a pcr

I am confused about this as well...."Rapid NAAT" tests at Walgreens is a new offering for us and the wording is vague (meets most pre-travel requirements).  The cost is $129....it sure would be nice if NCL does accept the rapid NAAT, because we can set up appointments within 4 miles of us!

Packing a pair of Dockers for a cruise is not an issue for my husband.  Packing size 13 huge shoes are a pain in the butt!  If we're not flying it is okay, but the weight and suitcase space when we are flying takes some planning.  He wears his good heavy walking shoes, but still has to pack boat shoes and flip flop sandals for ship time.....The struggle is real LOL!  

We are US citizens and will be on a cruise next year which includes Malta & France.  If I read the NCL website correctly, we need to use the Verifly app if we plan to leave the ship for a Malta or French excursion excursion.  I'm okay with filling out whatever is needed, but on step 1, NCL is not mentioned as a cruise choice.  We're not flying into Malta or France as we are cruising into the countries. Has anyone run into this?  Do any other countries require the use of Verifly?  I'm glad that I am starting all of this really early because it is going to take me forever to figure out all of the rules!  As a side...I am cruising in the Caribbean in Nov. 2022...is there anything special I need to fill out for any countries there (not going to Barbados)?  I plan to come armed with passport, masks, vaccine history info & covid test results.....

6 minutes ago, KeithJenner said:

The corkage fee is charged to your room when you board (you should bring it in your carry on). Quite often they don't charge you, either because they don't see it or they can't be bothered.

Thank you for the information.....the corkage fee won't be an issue no matter what.  Not having a glass of wine when on a cruise is!

Yikes!  We'll have 3 Greek ports on our 2023 cruise so I'll be watching these developments.  We like our wine before and with dinner.  For the first time in our cruising history, we may be carrying three bottles of wine on board with us.  Here's a dumb question.....I am aware that there is a corkage fee when you bring wine aboard....does this fee go against your stateroom account upon embarkation when they see the wine in your carryon?  Haven't done this before.....and I thought masks and Covid testing were going to be the issue on this trip!

1 hour ago, Nikoladoig88 said:

Just boarded the Epic in Rome last week and there is no testing at the port needed if you have a negative test 24 hours before, they just accept your result certificate. They might actually accept 24-72 hours, but I’m unsure as we tested 24 hours before. Hope this helps! 

Thanks....I think the plan we'll go with is to have a test at home the morning of our flight to Europe as suggested by TwoCoasts....and try to make sure we are at the pier within the 72 hour window (does the time difference work in favor or against those of us 5-6 hours behind Italian time???).  If we can't do that, our hotel in Civitavecchia has offered to make arrangements with a close-by pharmacy to do instant tests.  Coming back to the US it is clear that tests have to be done within 24 hours of the return...I just need to decide what method to use.  Appreciate your input!

We shall be flying from the US to Rome two days prior to our NCL cruise.  After our cruise, we plan to stay in Rome for two days and fly back to the US.  All flights are being handled by NCL.   I understand things may change, but using today's rules, this is what I am planning to do for Covid testing....For those of you in the know, please let me know if this is correct....or if I have to get more testing done.  I have not gotten my flight information yet.

1.  Test at home the day before our flight to Europe.  Cross our fingers that the tests are negative!

2.  Test in Rome the day before going to the pier to embark (not sure if this is necessary with the 2 day deviation)

3.  Test in Rome the day after disembarking, which would be one day before flying back to the US. Cross our fingers that the tests are negative!

Thanks in advance for your help.

This happened to me in 2019 trying to disembark off the NCL Spirit.  I knew that I was leaving $12 OBC, but they wouldn't let me off the ship until I zeroed out the account.  I really do wish that they would document this!  I had to go to the back of the line for $12........

Next year we are taking a Greek Island cruise which begins and ends in Rome.  We are arriving two days before the cruise and departing two days after the cruise ends.  Pre cruise we are going directly to Civitavecchia and have our hotel booked...we'll use a car service to get from the airport to the port city.  My questions are for the two days post cruise.  What is the recommended way to get from the port to whatever hotel I book in Rome?  I'm aware that there is a train, but that would not work for us because of age and luggage (too much of both).  Does NCL run a bus to Rome, or just to the airport?  Can I take a post cruise excursion to Rome and go to our hotel (not NCL booked) rather than to the airport?  Get a car service from the port to our hotel?

Appreciate your help....keep in mind we have some mobility issues......

On 3/19/2022 at 11:06 AM, Bowmanvilletravel said:

I handwrite mine, but do 4 columns:

1. first for the date and day,

2. Where we are/day at sea

3. Excursions

4. Dinner plans.

 

 

I use a  downloaded blank calendar page & type in what plans/reservations I have made in these above categories....I add if I have made reservations for entertainment (on the big ships)..I hang it on the wall when we get into the stateroom.  I then depend upon the daily ship paper to determine if there is something I want to really try do the next day.  I try to be flexible, as sometimes there's a really good musician in a venue that I want to stay and watch, or I just feel like having a nap in our stateroom!  I find this very helpful for cruises over 7 days, because after that, I have no idea about what day/date it is, never mind what reservations I have made!

2 minutes ago, Caraec said:

We have POA booked for 5/14/22, and we're planning to fly in on 5/9. If the guideline remains the same, I think my best bet would be eMed. It's a little scary, but I also don't want to think about other people who might be positive getting on the ship, so I guess this is the price we have to pay. 😑

The need and cost of the testing is not the problem for us.  POA is a unique situation....the flight is as far or further than those for our European cruises.  Hawaii should be given the 3 day lead time for testing just like international ports.  Is eMed the home test?  If that is acceptable, then I would take the test at 12:01 on the Thurs. before our flight to Hawaii!

Pro-rated refund or FCC so I stand corrected.....both of which take time...in the meantime, 10 days in quarantine still need to be paid for in Hawaii.....more than an inconvenience for me.  I want to know Covid test results before I get into this type of situation......