Checkmate1955

I would think very quickly. Once docked.... They could start boarding since everything else should be ready to go...Rooms, interior ship maintenance, etc I would think the loading of passengers, luggage and supplies would be the only tasks needed. Since Mobile is one of their ports...its possible they loaded up on some supplies (food, etc) there while working on ship. Strange that no one even posted about the supposedly 9am Carnival update this morning

Were the passengers off loaded in Mobile? if not then it will be a long night to off load in N.O. and then load for the next cruise Dec 5....

Are you saying that the Triumph is not operating at normal speeds or is it in dry dock, etc... We are scheduled to be on her on Dec 9....

Our take is, not considering currency, that cruise prices have increased in some areas.

 

We look at them in terms of relative value. Relative to other travel options that we enjoy-independent land travel, AI's,etc.

 

Our sense is that Med and Baltic cruises increased in relative terms to other options. This one reason why we passed on them last fall. We passed on Asia cruises for the same reason in preference for an independent land tour.

 

I suspect others are making their own evaluations and in some instances selecting alternative vacation options.

 

Cruises are only one vacation option. There are so many ships in the market now.

I agree... We enjoy cruising but enjoy much more being on a self guided tour of Europe... Riding the trains around Europe is a trip itself... We will cruise when the mood hits us and the prices are in line with what we can do elsewhere on our own.... Thanks..

.... Thanks to all who replied......

I checked one online cruise agency for March cruises from New Orleans. The cheapest balcony on Carnival Dream was listed as $779 for the March 6, 2016 departure. The price rose each week after that to $899, $969 and $979.

I check again today and your figures are correct.... Those are fair prices and are not near as high as NCL... They offer good choices of deck and location.... at the price quoted.... NCL is really pushing higher prices when you try to pick location.. Thanks for all of your help and Merry Christmas....:)

I find the balcony cabins on the Norwegian Dawn for $1299, roughly 50% over what you paid two years ago on RCL. Different ship, different line, different year, different price.

 

I also find balcony cabins on the Carnival Dream for $780. Different ship, different line, different year, different price.

I do not believe that the price you quoted is total price... I checked the Dream a couple of days ago and it was over $1100. PP for a lower price location balcony... New Orleans... I do appreciate your information and help... Thanks...

Thanks to those of you who answered my questions/concerns... I have found that many just do not read the posters statements/questions/etc... I said that NCL was almost double what we paid for RCCL.....

NCL normally does not charge as much for the same room and location that RCCL does.... Is that not a fair statement.... ? out of the same port for the same number of days... So why is NCL charging over a $1000 per person today for that cruise and throughout the year...? Seems high but as some said: they will charge as much as we are willing to pay...etc... Plus they have raised the rate because of the free beverage and then add another $160..? Is that being done on all of the cruise lines or just NCL....?

Fuel is way down... Eggs and milk are up as are many items we buy but none are up near 100 percent in two years... Just Saying.....:)

We did a nice oceanview on Royal Carribean two years ago for $850. total out of New Orleans..In March... I am seeing that same price doubled tonight... on NCL.... I do not get it... Free drink package was another $160. ... what is free about that... They advertise a good price and then you find it is for ... the deal where they pick the deck and cabin... when you pick a deck or cabin it goes up $200 PP...

 

Been on 12 cruises in 30 years and loved each and every cruise... It seems we have very little in choice unless we fly to Miami and we do not want to do that... Am I wrong...? or has cruising going out of sight....cost wise....

 

Thanks..

Any suggestion or help will be appreciated....

We did a nice oceanview on Royal Carribean two years ago for $850. total out of New Orleans..In March... I am seeing that same price doubled tonight... on NCL.... I do not get it... Free drink package was another $160. ... what is free about that... They advertise a good price and then you find it is for the ... deal where they pick the deck and cabin... when you pick a deck or cabin it goes up $200 PP...

Been on 12 cruises in 30 years and loved each and every cruise... It seems we have very little in choice unless we fly to Miami and we do not want to do that... Am I wrong...? or has cruising going out of sight....cost wise....

Thanks..

I am not concerned with how much I can drink but the freedom to grab a drink at any time and place is appealing to me... Sometimes I may want to try a drink that I have never had or heard of just to see if it is as good as it sounds... Freedom to come and go and eat and drink on a cruise ship is what I like in cruising... over 70....:)

HAL is once again offering the Explore4 package which has the Signature Drink Package and a couple of free dinners for some of their cruises. But to cover the cost of this package, HAL has raised the cost of the cruise fares.

As a result, some people are booking their cruises without the Explore4 package and saving money.[/QU

 

I believe part of the pricing is the so called free stuff... Drinks and Food are not free and run the cost of the booking up at least $250 PP...

Thanks to all of the post to my question..... I research and check daily for the past one year for a good deal on Europe, Transatlantic and New Orleans... I just do not see any good deals.... ALSO.... Oil is down and profits are up up and away..... Just saying.... Thanks...:)

We have cruised several times in the past 10 years... The last time was 2 years ago out of New Orleans for 7 days... We paid a total of $880 for an Ocean View in the middle of the ship for the 2 of us... As I have started checking rates again for this Winter I see rates are higher in December that previously 2 years ago....

Is it all of the so called free things they are adding to your cruise... Like drink packages, OBC, Dining options...etc.. all if you book certain cabins from OV and up... The same cabin of 2 years ago is around $1150 for the two of us.. and I do not see any deals... Is all of that a thing of the past..?

Looking Transatlantic this year and they are higher that I remember and with fewer stops/ports along the way...

Are the tips on your drinks included in the drink package... Do some ship lines have better deals on the drink package...?

Thanks to all who replied.

Thanks to all for the great replies.....

Thanks.... We are considering the 8 day Basil to Amsterdam in September... Room size, exercise room, hot tub/pool are basic considerations...

Food and price would be another consideration.... AMA and Uniworld sound nice...

Thanks for the replies.... I have been reading as much as possible and am wondering is there a daily time schedule posted somewhere that will indicate how much time you spend in each port and how much time is spent cruising... i.e. ... are you docked at 8 a.m. each morning and do you remain in that port until 8 p.m., etc.... ?

We are planning on a river cruise in Europe for this Sept/Oct...We have never cruised on river boat cruises but have traveled Europe many times...

What river and area do you recommend for first timers in Europe? I know everyone has their special areas and towns to see and we would like know what you recommend.... Also which river cruise line do you like the best? Thanks...

I have been reading the river cruise forums and am finding that some cruisers have been unhappy with different things on river cruises... One is that the ship they were on docked away from the town... The company implies that they dock right in town near shops and cafes... Is that true?

Some of the posters have indicated that the meals and servings at meal time are not up to the standards that again is indicated by the cruise companies... How did you find the food service on your river cruises?

Thanks... Richard

I could not disagree more. I just looked at every active thread on the first page of the NCL board. Every one of them were either asking for help or looking for information or posting reviews, comments, or issues about NCL cruises or ports.

 

Sure there are some that will post a thread negative towards their cruise or NCL but that is to be expected. We are not all zombies loyal to NCL. I don't see the NCL board as different than the other cruise lines except one exception. Royal and Carnival have much more active boards. But that is to be expected since NCL is very small in the cruise business only having about 10% of the total business.

 

There are several that want no dissent on the NCL forum. They get upset if someone posts a negative review or asks a redundant question. Or maybe they do dare complain something was not up to par compared to Royal or Carnival. But take it with a grain of salt.

 

The major difference from the other boards is threads just like this one. The boards should not be for cheerleaders only. It is called cruise critic after all. Why are some so offended over silly threads or complaints or questions? I will never understand. But every month someone posts a thread on the NCL board about people being too critical or complaining. What board are they talking about? The majority of all posts are very positive of NCL.

I agree..... We need more honest comments and less rose colored glasses trying to paint such a wonderful picture of ncl... The truth will stand on it's own...

We were on the Jewel March31 to April 6, 2014..... We went to the MDR on the first night as they were serving lobster and filet beef.... That was the last meal we had in the MDR for the rest of the cruise... The lobster was very small (3 bites) and chewy... The filet was terrible and tough... It was a flat cut of beef like a strip steak and it was tough... not filet at all... very thin... We eat every meal after that in the buffet and enjoyed each item served... even steaks in the buffet were better that what was served in the MDR...